Animated illuminated sign



Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HART 2,688,813

ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Sept. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l /7 10 lsl I a M 3 a0 /9 s K' la: 4 laavezzior Jawaes Hlj u P 14, 1954 .1. H.HART ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1949\\\\\\\\\8 a 7 I fla w fl w w 7 Jwraes II. Hana, by Han/val 5 Fuitioflz'aeys Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HART ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 22, 1949 VM N Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN James H. Hart, Andover,Mass.

Application September 22, 1949, Serial No. 117,225

3 Claims.

This invention relates to illuminated signs suit able for advertising orother similar purposes, and especially to an illuminated sign havingmeans to vary or modify the character of the light by which the displaymember of the sign is illuminated thereby to give the display member avaried illuminated effect.

One object of my present invention is to provide an illuminated sign ofthis character which is simple in construction and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for varying orchanging the color of the light which is projected onto the displaymember, which means does not in any way interfere with the removal orreplacement of the electric light bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated sign ofnovel construction in which the changing of the color or character ofthe light by which the display member is illuminated is accomplishedthrough the medium of a reciprocating translucent or transparent screenplaced between the display member and the source of illumination, whichscreen may be divided into sections, each having a distinctive color,the reciprocating movement of the screen serving to place differentsections thereof between the source of illumination and the displaymember, with the result that the color of the light by which the displaymember is illuminated is determined by the particular section of thescreen through which the light is projected.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of an illuminated sign embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of theinvention, said figure being taken on the line l-t, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the displaymember illuminated from two light sources.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view showing still a different embodiment of theinvention, said figure being a section on the line 7-1, Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing still a different embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing a different embodiment of theinvention in which the display member is composed of two parts, one ofwhich carries the message and the other of which serves as means forreflecting the varying colored light onto the message carrying part.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line li-l I, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view illustrating a device similar to thatshown in Figs. 10 and 11 except that the message carrying part of thedisplay member is made of a plurality of separate units.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line i3l3, Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an embodiment of theinvention in which the message carrying part of the display member isilluminated by both edge lighting and reflected light.

Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the display memberis a laminated member, each lamination of which carries a part of themessage.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line Iii-l6, Fig. 15.

In the devices shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9, 14, 15 and 16 of the drawingsthe display member, which is translucent, or transparent, or may bepartially opaque, is lighted by means of light rays directed into theedge thereof, while in the devices shown in Figs. 4 to 8 and 10 to 13,the display member is illuminated by light rays projected against theside face thereof.

Referring first to the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the display memberwhich is to be illuminated is indicated at l and is in the form of asheet or plate of transparent or translucent material, although saidmember might be composed of a series of individual units 49 as shown inFig. 12. Such display member is mounted on a housing 2 within which islocated a source of illumination in the form of an electric light bulb3, said bulb having connected thereto a suitable electric cord 4 whichterminates in a plug terminal 5 by which the device can be plugged intoany outlet of an electric light wiring system.

The display member I is mounted on the housing 2 in such a way that onlythe edge or edges thereof nearest to the housing is exposed to the lightprojected from the bulb 3. For this purpose the housing 2 has a slot 6in the face thereof nearest to the display member into which slot thenearest edge 7 of the, display member I is received.

Since the display member I is translucent or transparent, the lightwhich is projected against the edge 7 by the bulb 3 will illuminate theentire display member from the interior.

The message ll on the display member may conveniently be provided in aknown manner by rounding out or engraving the letters forming themessage on the back face thereof, in which case the edge lighting willproduce illuminated letters.

To obtain a varying color effect in the illuminated display member I, Ihave provided a lighttransmitting screen member 8 which is situatedwithin the housing 2 and is interposed between the bulb 3 and the edge 1of the display member I, said screen member usually extending the fulllength of the display member and being divided longitudinally into aplurality of narrow sections indicated at 9, l0, II and I2, each sectionhaving a distinctive color or light-transmitting characteristic. Forinstance, each section may have a distinctive color, or one section maybe transparent, or even opaque. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, thesection 9 is lined to show a green color, the section II! is lined toshow a red color, the section I I is lined to show a yellow color, andthe section I2 is lined to show a blue color. Obviously other patternsand methods may be utilized to make the screen 8 a device for modifyingthe light rays that it transmits.

Means are provided for reciprocating the screen member 8 back and forthin a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the displaymember I so that at each pass of the screen in either direction, thecolored sections 9, III, II and I2 will be brought successively into aposition between the bulb 3 and the edge I of the display member.

While any suitable means for thus reciprocating the screen may beemployed, I have shown for this purpose a runner member I3 to which thescreen is secured and which is mounted for reciprocating movement in aguiding member I4 carried by the housing 2 on the interior thereof. Saidrunner I3 is connected by a link I5 with a crank pin I6 on a crank diskI! which is carried by a shaft I9. Said shaft is operated from asuitable motor I9, there preferably being suitable reduction gearbetween the motor and the shaft I8 so as to provide for giving thescreen its reciprocating movement at a proper speed.

With the screen in the position shown in Fig. 3, the blue section I2 isinterposed between the light bulb 3 and the lower edge I of the displaymember I and hence the display member will be illuminated with the bluecolor. As the screen advances toward the right, the yellow coloredsection II will be brought into position between the light 3 and theedge I of the display member and the latter will then be illuminatedwith a yellow light. As the screen moves still further to the right, thered section II) and then the green section 9 will be brought intoposition to project first red light and then green light onto the edgeof the display member I thus giving the display member first a red andthen a green color. By this means the color of the display member iscontinuously changing due to the reciprocating movement of the screenmember 8.

In the sign shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 one side of the housing 2 isprovided with a translucent or transparent display member 29 which iscontinuously illuminated directly from the bulb 3 and without theinterposition of a color screen between the bulb and said displaymember. The sign shown in Fig. 1 therefore will show a display member 20having a constant color and another display member I, the color of whichis continuously varying.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention inwhich the display member is illuminated by light rays directed againstone face thereof instead of against the edge thereof as in Figs. 1 to 3.In said Figs. 4 and 5 Ia indicates a display member of translucent ortransparent material which is mounted in a housing 2a and which may bemade with or without an opaque area, said display member forming oneside of the housing. Situated within the housing is an electric lightbulb 3a, the cord 4a of which is provided at its end with aterminal plug5a.

Also situated within the housing 2a is a partition member locatedbetween the bulb 3a and the display member Ia and having upper and lowersections 2I, 22 which are separated at their inner edges to form a slot24, the width of the slot and the relation of the light bulb 3a theretobeing such that the entire rear face of the display member will beilluminated by the bulb. The upper section 2I inclines downwardly andinwardly from the top of the display member Ia, and the lower section 22inclines upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of said display memberIa, and the slot 24 formed between said sections is located directly infront of the electric light bulb 3a. A color screen 8a is interposedbetween the slot 24 and the source of illumination 3a, said color screenbeing constructed as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 and beingcomprised of a plurality of sections each having its distinctive coloror light-transmitting characteristic. Such screen member 8a is shown asextending from one end of the housing 2a to the other and is designed tobe reciprocated vertically, said screen being guided in itsreciprocating movement by vertical guiding members 25 carried by theends of the housing 2a. The screen member is given its verticalreciprocation by means similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, that is,the screen is connected by a link I5a to a crank pin on a crank disk I6athat is operated from a suitable motor I9a.

As the screen 8a is reciprocated vertically, the differently coloredsections thereof will be brought into line with the opening 24 andtherefore the color of the light by which the display member Ia isilluminated will be repeatedly changed.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modification of the construction shown inFig. 5 in which two sources of illumination are employed forilluminating the display member. In this embodiment of the invention thedisplay member is indicated at lb. It is made of transparent ortranslucent material with possibly some opaque areas, and is supportedin a housing member 21). The two sources of illumination are indicatedat 3b. Situated within the housing member and in the rear of the displaymember 1 b is a partition member having two parallel slots 24?), oneslot being located directly in front of each bulb 3b. The partition isshaped to present a section 2 lb extending upwardly and outwardly fromthe top of each slot 241) and another section 22b extending downwardlyand outwardly from the bottom of each slot 24b. The portion of thedisplay member ID which is illuminated through each opening 24b is adifferent portion from that illuminated through the other opening.

In this embodiment the color screen is formed in two parts 92) which areconnected together to move as a unit. This two-part screen is movablevertically and is guided in its movement by vertical guiding members25b, each part of the screen operating between one of the bulbs 31) andthe corresponding slot 241).

The screen is provided with a member 26 which is connected by a link I5bwith a crank disk I61) that is operated from a motor I9b, all asillustrated and described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Each part 8bof the screen is divided into sections, each of which sections has itsown distinctive color or light-transmitting characteristic.

As a result the vertical reciprocating movement of the screen serves tochange continuously the color or character of the light by which thedisplay member Ib is illuminated.

The two parts 8b of the screen may be in the form of different andseparated areas of a screen member 30 that is guided in the ways 251).

By using two bulbs 31) and two screen areas 81), it is possible toilluminate satisfactorily a display member having a larger verticaldimension than that shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, by having the sequenceof the sections in one screen area 8b arranged differentially from thosein the other screen area, it is possible to increase the variations inthe illuminating effect due to the reciproc'ating movement of thescreen.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a different embodiment of the inventionin which the light pattern on the border of the display member only issubject to change. In said embodiment of the invention the housing isindicated at 20, and lo indicates the display member which forms oneside face of the housing. Situated directly back of the display memberat the top and bottom thereof is a strip 21 having both opaque andlight-transmitting areas. While such areas may be provided for invarious ways, the strip herein shown is made of opaque material havingapertures 28 therein, the latter constituting the lighttransmittingareas. Situated directly behind each strip Zl is a narrow color screenelement 80 that is divided vertically or transversely into sections 29,each section having a distinctive color. The two color screen members 30are connected together by a bridge member 30 and each is arranged to bemoved horizontally or lengthwise of the strips 21. The housing 20 isprovided with guides 250 for guiding the screen members 80 in theirreciprocating movement.

The two screen members are given their reciprocating movement throughthe medium of a motor l9c which is connected to the bridge piece 30 bymeans of a crank and link construction I50 and I60 as in Figs. 2 and 3.

With this construction the changing light pattern will occur at the topand bottom or sides of the display member lo, the main body of thedisplay member being constantly illuminated direct- 1y from the lightbulb 30. I

In Figure 9 I have shown still a different embodiment of the inventionwherein the color screen has a rocking instead of a right line movement,said Fig. 9 also showing a construction by which the display member isilluminated through its bottom edge.

In the device of Fig. 9 the housing is shown at M and the display memberat Id, the latter being mounted in a slot in the top of the housing andhaving its lower edge 1d exposed through the housing.

The color screen 8d is divided into narrow sections parallel to eachother and is mounted on a rocking member 33 which is pivoted in thehousing at 34. Said rocking member is connected by a link l5d to a crankpin l6d on a crank disk l'ld which is operated from a suitable motorI911.

The electric light bulb by which the display member is illuminated isindicated at 301. In this embodiment the screen 8d is curved on an arehaving the pivotal point 34 as its center and the lengthwise dimensionof the differently colored sections of the screen 811 extend parallel tothe axis of rocking motion of said screen.

From the above it will be understood that as the crank disc "at isturned by the motor, the screen will be rocked about its pivot 34 anddifferent sections thereof will thus be brought successively intoposition between the light bulb 3d and the lower edge lid of the displaymember and thereby the light by which the display member is illuminatedwill be constantly changing in color.

In the construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the display portion of thesign is made up of two parts, a transparent or translucent member l eand an opaque light-reflecting member 44, the surface 45 of which thatfaces the member le being a light-reflecting surface. Both of theseelements le and 44 are mounted on the upper side of a housing 2e withinwhich is located the light source 3c. The housing 2c is provided with aslot 46 situated between the two display members le and 44 and directlyopposite the light source 3e.

Situated between the light source 3e and the slot 46 is a color screenmember 8e which is given a reciprocating motion by means similar to thatshown in Figs. 1 to 9, said color screen 86 being provided with aconnecting member l5e which leads to a motor operated crank disk (notshown). In this embodiment the light from the light source 3e will beprojected through the slot 46 and will be reflected by the surface 45against the back side of the display element le thereby illuminating thelatter.

The edge portion 41 of the member 44 may be curved forwardly and isspaced from the edge portion of the member is as shown at 48. This space48 provides a narrow luminous area surrounding the member le which givessomewhat the glow effect of a border strip of neon tubing.

The reciprocating movement of the screen 8e provides a constantlychanging color in the light which is projected against and reflectedfrom the surface 45, thereby providing an illuminating sign whichproduces a continuously varying color effect.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown an embodiment of the invention inwhich the element of the display member onto which the light isrefiected is in the form of individual units 40. These individual unitsM! are mounted on a housing 2f in the manner described with reference toFigs. 10 and 11, and situated back of said individual units is thereflecting element 44 having the forwardly curved marginal edge 41 Thehousing 2f is provided with a slot 46 between the two elements 40 and 44and situated between the light source 31 and the slot 46) is a colorscreen 8 constructed in the same manner as shown with respect to Figs. 1to 6 and 11.

The individual units 40 may be either of transparent or transulcentmaterial or may be opaque. In either case they will be set against abackground formed by the reflecting surface 451 of the member 44), whichreflects forwardly a light that is continuously changing in color as thescreen 81 reciprocates.

In Fig. 14 there is shown an embodiment of the invention somewhat likethat shown in Figs. 10 and 11 except that the display member carryingthe message is illuminated both by edge illumination and by reflectedlight. In this embodiment lg represents a part of the display membercarrying a message which is supported by a housing 29, the latter havinga slot in which the lower edge lg of the member lg is received. Situatedback of the member lg is the other member 44g which is preferably anopaque member and has a front reflecting surface 45g. The housing 2g isprovided with a slot 46g between the members lg and 44g and situatedwithin the housing opposite said slot is a light source 3g. 8g indicatesa color screen similar to that shown in the other figures of the drawingand which is located between the light source 3gland. the slot 46g, saidcolor screen being made upof separate sections each having itsdistinctive color and being reciprocated in any usual way as shown inFigs. 1 to 9.

4 In this embodiment the member lg will be illuminated partly by edgeillumination, that is, by light rays projected through the edge 19thereof,

and partly by light rays projected through the slot 46g and reflectedonto the back face of said member lg by the reflecting surface 45g. Withthis construction the light changing effect which the member lg receivesthrough the edge 'ig will be out of step with the light changing effectwhich said member lg receives by means of the light reflected from thesurface 45g. In other words while light of one color is being projectedby the screen through the slot 45g, light of another color will beprojected onto the edge lg of ,the member lg so that when said member lghas an edge lighting elfect of one color, it will be subjected to areflected lighting effect of another color.

In Figs. 15 to 1.6 there is shown an embodiment of the invention inwhich the display member is a laminated member, the laminations of whichare transparent or translucent. Each lamination carries a message andthe messages on the laminations are so disposed that the message on onelamination is in non-registering relation with that on the otherlamination.

In said Figs. 15 and 16 2h indicates a housing member carrying thedisplay member lh which is formed of the two laminations 49 and 50, eachlamination being of translucent or transparent material.

These two laminations are set into a slot in the housing Eh so that theedges 'ih thereof are located opposite the light source 3h which islocated within the housing. 8.72. indicates the reciprocatingmulti-colored screen which is situated between the light source th andthe lower edges iii of the laminations 49, 50, the screen 871. beingreciprccated in any suitable way as by means illustrated in Figs. 1 to9.

The message may be formed on the laminations by routing out or engravingthe letters spelling the message on the back face of the lamination asshown at El and as usual in signs which are illuminated by the edgelighting method. The two laminations will preferably be of transparentmaterial and the message 52 on the front lamination 49 is shown as beinglocated in non-registering relation with the message 53 on thelamination fill so that the message 53 can be read through the Y frontlamination.

With this construction the edge lightine of the laminations will produceilluminated letters, the front faces of the laminations, except wherethe letters occur, having no visible illumination. The reciprocatingmovement of the color screen 871. will produce a varying color effect tothe illuminated letters of the messages and at any instant the coloreffect of the message carried by the front lamination 69 may bedifferent irom that of the message 53 carried by the back lamination 5G.The color eifect of both laminations will be constantly changing,although at any instant one lamination may be illuminated by one colorand the other lamination by a different col- While I have herein shownsome embodiments of my invention, yet I wish it understood that variouschanges in the structure and design of the device may be made without inany way departing from the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An animated illuminated sign comprising a housing, a flat displaymember of light-transmitting material forming one side of the housing, alight source within the housing, a partition within the housing betweenthe light source and the display member and provided with an elongatedopening extending from one end to the other of the display member andthrough which the entire rear face of the display member is illuminatedby the light source, a multi-colored screen of light-transmittingmaterial situated between the light source and the partition, saidscreen presenting a plurality of elongated relatively narrow sections ofdifferent colors all occupying the same plane, which plane is parallelto the display member, each screen section extending parallel to saidopening and from one end thereof to the other, and means to reciprocatesaid screen in its own plane and in a direction perpendicular to thelength of the screen sections.

2. An animated illuminated sign comprising a housing, a flat display m.nber supported thereby, said display member having light-transmittingcharacteristics, said housing having a lightreceiving compartment, alight source in said compartment, one wall of said housing compartmerithaving an elongated opening extending the full length of the displaymember and situated in the rear thereof, and through which the entirerear face of the display member is illuminated, a multi-coloredreciprocating screen of light-transmitting material situated between thelight source and said opening, and presenting a plurality of elongated,relatively narrow sections of different colors, all occupying the sameplane and all extending parallel to said opening from one end thereof tothe other, and means to reciprocate said screen in its own plane and ina direction perpendicular to the length of the screen sections.

3. An illuminated sign comprising a display member presenting alight-transmitting element and an opaque element having alight-reflecting surface, a housing on which said elements are supportedwith the opaque element situated in the rear of the light-transmittingelement and having its light-reflecting surface directed toward saidlight-transmitting element, a light source withinthe housing, saidhousing having an elongated opening between the light-transmittingelement and the opaque element, and through which the light-reflectingsurface of the opaque element is directly illuminated by said lightsource, said light-transmitting element being illuminated by lightreflected from said illuminated light-reflecting surface, amulti-colored reciprocating light-transmitting screen interposed betweensaid light source and said opening, said screen presenting a pluralityof elongated relatively narrow sections of different colors, alloccupying the same plane and extending parallel to said opening from oneend thereof to the other, and means to reciprocate said screen in itsown plane and in a direction perpendicular to the length of the screensections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 237,866 Holdsworth Feb. 15, 1881 1,351,562 Foster Aug. 31,1920 1,741,748 White Dec. 31, 1929 1,920,826 Wing Aug. 1, 1933 2,107,767Rupp Feb. 8, 1938

